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£75 Million Cocaine Haul Found in Banana Shipment at Southampton as Two Men Are Charged

Officials say the 943kg seizure from a NicaraguaPanama route disrupts criminal profits.

Overview

  • Border Force working with the National Crime Agency opened a container at Southampton Docks and found 943kg of cocaine concealed among pallets of bananas.
  • The container had sailed to the UK from Nicaragua via Panama, according to authorities.
  • Daniel Dumitru, 37, of Smethwick, and Andrew Smyth, 46, of Prenton, have been charged with importing Class A drugs.
  • The men were due to appear at Southampton Magistrates' Court on Thursday, March 19.
  • The NCA has not confirmed the date the drugs were first seized, and a branch commander called it a massive haul worth about £75m.